It was 1945 when Don and Nita Hoel left their Glendale, Arizona cattle ranch and moved to Oak Creek Canyon. They purchased a small group of cabins called Glenwood. In the years that followed, they would add nine cabins to the existing five and build a grocery store for their guests. This small getaway to the "cool pines" would become known as Don Hoel's Cabins.

At that time, it was an 8-hour trip to Phoenix and while there were several families who came to Oak Creek to fish and vacation, there were comparatively few accommodations in the area.

"Just Moved In..." Don & Nita Hoel with their daughter, Marva, in 1946

Most of the land was still undeveloped. In those days, members of the Navajo, Hopi and Zuni Indian tribes came to Oak Creek Canyon to gather wild celery and many other herbs that they used for seasoning food and for medicine. When they stopped at the grocery store, they soon found that Don Hoel would buy their jewelry, rugs, kachina dolls and baskets. He sold them on a shelf next to the fishing tackle in the store.

He was very interested in the meaning of the kachinas and the designs on the baskets and jewelry. He got to know and be good friends with many who brought their handmade things to Oak Creek Canyon. These artists soon understood that he was only interested in well-crafted baskets, rugs and jewelry made with only the best materials Don Hoel did not accept sloppy work. He continued to learn more about Indian art and as his interest grew, so did his collection. Don & Nita built a vault in the back of their home behind the grocery store.

The result was a shop where people could buy anything from the beautiful gold and turquoise jewelry to the traditional silver, but always with the same promise of quality. Don & Nita's Indian arts, especially their jewelry, became quite well-known and was featured in many magazine pictorials and articles. Don became a recognized authority in the field and was asked to appraise many collections.
Don interested many others in the beautiful art of the southwest. Several of these became collectors themselves and enjoyed being invited back to "the vault" to see and buy some the beautiful things in Don and Nita's collection. Throughout these years, Nita had been designing the home that they had planned to build someday. Finally, in the early 1970's they hired someone to manage the cabins and built their home up the road. It was there that DON HOEL'S INDIAN SHOP was established and remains today.
Don continued to buy only first class merchandise. He purchased the highest grade turquoise directly from the mine owners and traders. He also bought his own precious metals and diamonds to insure the quality of the raw materials from which his jewelry would be made. Don Hoel then "contracted" some of the finest Native American artists in the southwest to work their magic.

Despite Don's death in 1983 and Nita's death in 1998, HOEL'S INDIAN SHOP continues to operate under the guidance of Don and Nita's grandson, David Watters and his wife Carol. They are still buying and selling only the Highest quality merchandise so collectors can still find the same beautiful and unusual things that they have come to depend on from HOEL'S INDIAN SHOP.

HOEL'S Indian Shop
9589 North Highway 89A
Sedona, Arizona 86336-9607

928.282.3925